Religiously motivated murders – 2011

Faisalabad: Ahmadi shot dead inside his home for his faith

September 4, 2011: Mr Naseem Ahmad Butt (55) was martyred here at about 1 a.m. He was sleeping in his home in Muzaffar Colony when four unknown assailants jumped over the wall of his home and fired at him. They taunted the victim for being a Qadiani. He was shot in his stomach and chest. The assailants immediately fled the scene. Mr Butt was left critically injured, and was taken to a hospital where he died at approximately 9 a.m.

Mr Naseem Butt was a peaceful and law abiding citizen. He is survived by his wife, four daughters and one son.

The Press Spokesman of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Jamaat, Abid Khan said in London:

“The religious extremists in Pakistan have taken yet another life. What they perhaps fail to realize is that through their actions they are harming the entire peace and stability of Pakistan as a whole. Hatred and persecution of any organization or group must be condemned by all those who believe in tolerance and love for humanity. Such attacks serve only to destabilize society and to spread discord.”

Khalid Pervez Butt, his brother told the daily Express Tribune, “The boys were between 20 and 25 years old. Three of them kept a watch on the door as one kicked my brother. When he was awake, the killer said, ‘You are an Ahmadi, and liable to be killed’”.

An FIR was lodged in the local police station but the police and the authorities apparently took little action. The situation became tense for Ahmadis.

“Faisalabad has become one of the toughest cities in Pakistan for Ahmadis to live in,” Syed Mahmood Ahmad, secretary of the Faisalabad chapter of Jamaat Ahmadiyya told TNS. “Naseem Butt was neither an active member of our Jamaat nor was an influential person. He was killed only because of his religious beliefs. Within days after his killing, unidentified people have written slogans like ‘Slaves of the champions of Prophet (PBUH)’ and ‘Down with Qadianiat’ on the walls of Muzaffar Colony,” he added.

The victim’s brother, Mr. Khalid Ahmad seemed to be the next target of the extremist group who had already taken the lives of his brother and cousin. Some unknown people monitored his movements after his brother’s death. They visited his work-place and obtained information about him. He became upset. He was advised to exercise extreme caution.

In fact such a murder by criminal bigots was on the cards and was expected anytime in Faisalabad. They had openly called for it a few weeks before this murder by distributing in this city hateful pamphlets which named Ahmadis, gave their addresses and called them Wajib ul Qatl (must be killed). Ahmadis presented these pamphlets to the city police, informed the provincial authorities and urged all, including the federal government, to take preventive action. Apparently nothing was done except registration of an FIR, although the publishers and instigators had printed their identity, phone numbers and E-mail addresses on the pamphlet.

The Daily Times, Lahore published a news report on these pamphlets on June 14, and mentioned about ‘plans of execution of terrorist activities against Ahmadis in the region. The report further mentioned that the terrorists were collaborating with other wings and laying out a proper plan of Ahmadis’ target killing.’ “The government and law enforcement authorities did not take due notice of the people distributing pamphlets and other hate material, ignorance that eventually led to the killing of Naseem Ahmad,” the paper remarked in its issue of September 5, 2011.

The Express Tribune took notice of this murder in its editorial, titled: A most dangerous place. The editor wrote, “Quite shockingly, the Faisalabad police chief says he has no information about the pamphlets which brazenly name the threatening organization.” The Express Tribune observed further on September 5, 2011, “The Punjab government’s record of protecting Ahmadis has been dismal.”

The editorial of the Express Tribune, mentioned above, made the following disquieting remarks in its closing: “Its (the state of Pakistan’s) failure in Faisalabad to come to the help of the targeted Ahmadis is symptomatic of the terminal phase of its existence. Hatred and extremism are becoming hallmarks of the sociology of the state.”

Convert teacher shot dead in school at mid-day

Farooqabad, District Sheikhupura; October 1, 2011: Mr. Dilawar Hussain, an Ahmadi teacher in a local primary school was shot dead at about 12:30 by pillion riders. One bullet hit him in the neck and another in the stomach. He was taken to the hospital but he died en-route. The attackers fled after the attack.

Mr. Hussain joined the Ahmadiyya community a year ago. This angered his relatives, who used various means to make him recant, but he remained firm in his new confession. A group of mullas visited him a few weeks ago, and while departing declared him ‘wajib ul qatl’ (must be killed). The authorities failed to provide him any support in exercise of freedom of belief.

The deceased is survived by his wife and four children. He was 42.

The Director Public Affairs of the Ahmadiyya central office wrote a letter to concerned political, administrative and police authorities informing them of the attack and conveyed the following additional information:

The victim had no personal quarrel with any one.

He had been declared Wajib ul Qatl (must be killed) on loudspeaker for his faith, in his village. The authorities took no action to restrain the mulla or to protect the victim.

Edicts of Ahmadis being Wajib ul Qatl have been printed on leaflets which have been distributed here and there. Provocative literature is also being distributed. All this could lead to more of such murders.

Print and electronic media partly encourage sectarian extremists.

It was 208th murder of an Ahmadi for faith since the promulgation of the anti-Ahmadi Ordinance XX.

Authorities have been informed in the past as well of such cases and requested to take preventive measures, but unfortunately there has been no effective response.

Murder of an Ahmadi woman

Chobara, District Layyah; December 5, 2011: Ms. Maryam Khatoon was attacked and killed here by a group. She was 26 and a mother of three children.

Ms Maryam lived in a residential area which is owned by an Ahmadi. Several Ahmadi families reside here. Ahmadiyya mosque and the residence of Ahmadi missionary is also found in the same neighborhood.

This area was acquired by Mr. Muhammad Khan, Ahmadi 40 years ago and developed into a residential estate. Someone else recently acquired adjacent land and laid frivolous claim to some plots in Mr. Khan’s area. A court upheld Mr. Khan’s claim. The opposition party, however, secured help of a police officer, some politicians and a few mullas, and attempted taking over by force what was not his by law. The force turned into attack that took an innocent life.

The attacking party fled the village after the murder. A police sub-inspector Ashiq Baloch reportedly helped the attackers to flee.

This murder of an Ahmadi is another one of a series in which the crime is committed under the patronage of some politicians, support of a few mullas and the connivance of police.

Rana Zafrulla, murdered for his faith

Sanghar (Sindh); March 18, 2011: Rana Zafrullah was murdered by two unknown assassins when he was going home in the afternoon after having said his Friday prayers. He was 39.

It is learnt that as he approached his residence, he was shot by two men. One shot hit him below the right eye. The other went through his forehead, while the third hit him on the right hand. On hearing the shots his younger brother came out and saw his fallen brother. He drove him to Nawab Shah Hospital, but he succumbed to the injuries.

This incident is one in a series of Ahmadi murders in Sanghar. This is the fifth murder there within the last few years. Rana Zafrulla was active in the community service and held the post of finance secretary at the district level.

Rana Zafrullah left behind a widow, two daughters, aged three and one, and an old mother.

Another Ahmadi killed

Nawabshah, Sindh; July 11, 2011: A well-known and respected Ahmadi lawyer, Malik Mabroor Ahmad (50) was killed in a religiously motivated attack in Nawab Shah, Sindh. He was shot at point blank range near his office by an unidentified gunman at approximately 8:15 p.m. Upon hearing the gunfire, the brother of the deceased, Malik Waseem Ahmad, rushed to the scene, however by the time he arrived Malik Mabroor Ahmad had already passed away. The assailant also fired at him three times when he tried to chase him but luckily he was unhurt.

Malik Mabroor Ahmad was a peaceful and law abiding citizen and a renowned lawyer. He was very well respected amongst the local community and was known for his kindness. He served the community with great distinction throughout his life. He is survived by his mother, a wife, three sons and two daughters. All his children are at a school-going age.

It is worth noting that Mr. Mabroor survived a previous attack on his life in 2008 but no action was taken by the authorities to protect him from the extremists. That same year two renowned Ahmadis, Mr. Muhammad Yousuf from Nawab Shah and Dr. Abdul Mannan Siddiqui of Mirpur Khas, Sindh were killed by religious extremists. Since 1984, after the promulgation of the infamous Ordinance XX by the dictator Zia-ul-Haq, 39 Ahmadis have been killed for their faith in Sindh alone, while this was the sixth incident of its kind in Nawab Shah. It is worth noting that hardly any of the killers have so far been brought to justice. All possible means of mass communication are being used by extremists to incite the people against Ahmadis and fuel the raging fire of sectarianism in the country, and the government is not willing to stop it.